Things to Do in the Okanagan in January 2027

On the calendar in January

A handful of dated events, from New Year's Day to the end of the month. More winter dates are in our winter events guide.

• Polar Bear Dip (Kelowna, Jan 1): start the year with a cold plunge at Tugboat Beach in Waterfront Park, 1 to 2:30 pm. Admission is $15.
• Le Hockey Sweater (Armstrong, Jan 1 – 3): the final dates of its run at Caravan Farm Theatre, at 3 pm. Admission is $57.75 to $73.50.
• Jr. Chef Challenge (Big White, Jan 13): a cooking contest for kids aged 5 to 13 on the top floor of the Happy Valley Day Lodge. Young cooks gather at 3:15 pm.
• The Loose Moose Challenge – January (Big White, Jan 16 – 17): a scavenger hunt around the village. Pick up a card at the Events Tent in the Village Centre from 9 am and bring it back the next afternoon, between 2 and 4 pm.
• Frost Fest Winter Carnival (Penticton, Jan 22 – 24): a winter carnival weekend at Gyro Park.
• Penticton Vees Home Games 2026–27 (Penticton, home games through Mar 26): WHL regular-season hockey on a cold night. The team publishes tickets and any schedule changes.

Snow days

January is deep winter up the hill. For lift-and-run days, see our ski season guide; for more rinks, see our skating guide.

• Caravan Farm Theatre – Winter Sleigh Ride Show (Armstrong): a horse-drawn sleigh carries you through a story staged in the snowy fields and woods of the farm. Shows run about an hour, with live music, a fire and hot cider, and the season runs from December into January.
• Big White Tube Park (Happy Valley) (Big White): five groomed lanes down the hillside, and you don't need any skill or gear. Tickets are for timed two-hour sessions, so book online ahead.
• Twinkling Trail – Big White (Big White): an evening walk on a lit-up path through the snowy forest of the Happy Valley Adventure Park. No equipment needed, and it's included with a Big White lift ticket, season pass or POWder Card.
• Tube Town – SilverStar Tube Park (SilverStar): a tube lift takes you back to the top after every run. Kids need to be at least three to ride, and the café next door has hot chocolate or mulled wine.
• Stuart Park Outdoor Rink (Kelowna): a free rink on the downtown waterfront, with the lake and the Bennett Bridge behind it. The rental hut runs 11 am to 8 pm, but it closes below −10°C, so bring your own skates on the coldest days.
• Telemark Nordic Club (West Kelowna): about 25 minutes from downtown Kelowna, with more than 50 km of groomed cross-country trails (some lit for night skiing) and 60 km of snowshoe trails. The lodge has a fire to warm up by.

Warm up indoors

When it's grey or bitterly cold, head inside. Our saunas & spas guide and rainy-day guide have more ideas.

• Löyly Floating Sauna (Kelowna): a Finnish-style cedar sauna floating at the Downtown Marina, with a cold plunge in the lake and a warm solarium lounge. Book a shared 80-minute session.
• New Year Reset: Salt Cave Yin, Sound Healing & Intention Setting (Kelowna, Jan 5): an evening class at Room and Pillar Spa, 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Admission is $55.
• Penticton Community Centre (Pool & Lazy River) (Penticton): a leisure pool with a lazy river and a waterslide, plus a big whirlpool, sauna and steam room for warming up on a cold day.
• Okanagan Heritage Museum (Kelowna): the natural and human history of the valley, from syilx culture to settler life, with exhibits such as Dinosaurs of BC.
• Vernon Public Art Gallery (Vernon): the largest public art gallery in the North Okanagan, with changing contemporary exhibitions and hands-on art activities for all ages.
• Beyond the Crux Climbing Gym (Kelowna): over 5,000 sq ft of bouldering plus top rope and lead walls. Drop-in passes and rentals make it easy to try for the first time.
• Kobau Lanes (Osoyoos): an eight-lane 5-pin bowling centre with cosmic lighting and a licensed lounge, and you can order pizza in.

Cozy food for cold days

Soup, ramen and a seat by the fire. Our cozy spots guide has more.

• Little Hobo Soup & Sandwich Shop (Kelowna): a downtown soup and sandwich shop that's been a local staple since the 1970s. Try the three-soup flight with a grilled cheese.
• Bliss Bakery and Bistro (Peachland): fresh pastries, real quiche and hearty soups on Beach Avenue.
• Kaze Japanese Restaurant (Enderby): a family-run spot in a converted old home downtown, with a fireplace dining room and miso ramen that reviewers call spectacular.
• Sugoi Ramen Express (Vernon): noodles made in-house and a broth that takes four full days to make.
• Fat Marmot (Big White): a ramen bar at the Inn at Big White with a fire-table patio for sunset après-ski. The ramen is served inside only.
• The Bulldog Grand Cafe Silver Star (SilverStar): a village pub with four gas fireplaces, a good warm-up stop between runs.

The quiet season

January is a calm time to see the wine country side of the valley, with a guide doing the driving.

• Festival of Trees at Mission Hill (West Kelowna, until Jan 3): the last days of a display of community-decorated holiday trees, with a guided experience and seasonal wine tasting supporting BC Children's Hospital.
• Toast the Okanagan Wine Tours (Kelowna): a small tour company with over 10 years of guided tasting tours, including winter wine tours that leave from Big White.
• Cheers! Okanagan Tours and Transportation (Kelowna): guided wine tours, including wheelchair-accessible tours, plus winter wine tours from Big White and SilverStar.

Quick picks

See more: Winter festivals & events, Saunas & spas, Rainy-day ideas, What's On

More Okanagan guides →